Nelson: Britannia's God of War

by Andrew Lambert

  6 Lambert, A. D. ‘Admiral Lord Hotham, Command and Reputation in the Age of Nelson’, in Lefevre, P. and Harding, R. eds. Contemporaries of Nelson. 2004

  7 Nelson to Wife 10.10.1794 and continuation on 12.10; Naish pp. 125–6

  8 Nelson to Wife 24.10.1794; Naish pp. 185–6

  9 Nelson to Locker 10.10.1794; Nicolas I p. 490.

  10 Nelson to Elliot 10.11.1794 and end.; Nicolas I pp. 497–8

  11 Nelson to Clarence 19.1.1795; Nicolas II pp. 1–2

  12 Nelson to Clarence 11.1794; Nelson to Suckling 28.11.1794; Nicolas pp. 50I–3

  13 Nelson to Wife 12 and 28.11.1794; Naish pp. 187–9

  14 Nelson to Wife 12.11.1794; Naish p. 187

  15 Nelson to Wife 23.1.1795; Naish p. 193

  16 Nelson to Wife 31.1.1795; Naish pp. 194–5. Pocock, T. Horatio Nelson, pp. 124–5. Vincent pp. 139–41.

  17 Nelson to Wife 17.1.1795; Naish p. 192

  18 Nelson to Wife 23.1.1795; Naish p. 193

  19 Nelson to Wife 23–24.1.795; Naish p. 193

  20 Nelson to Wife 31.1.1795; Naish pp. 194–5

  21 Nelson to Wife 7.6.1795; Naish pp. 210–1

  22 Nelson to Wife 25.2.1795; Naish p. 197

  23 Nelson to Wife 2, 6 and 10.3.1795; Naish pp. 197–9

  24 Nelson to Clarence 24.4.1795; Nicolas II p. 31

  25 Nelson to Clarence 15.3.1795, Nelson to Locker 21.3.1795; Nicolas II pp. 19–22

  26 Nelson to Suckling 22.3.1795; Nicolas II pp. 22–3. Nelson to Wife 23.3. and 28.3.1795; Naish pp. 201–3.

  27 Nelson to Wife 1.4.1795; Naish pp. 203–5

  28 Nelson to Locker 4.5.1795; Nicolas II pp. 34–6

  29 Nelson to Elliot 12.4.1795; Naish pp. 405–6. Nelson to Elliot 16.4.1795 and Nelson to Clarence 16.4.1795; Nicolas II pp. 30–1

  30 Nelson to Wife 7.5.1795; Naish p. 208

  31 Nelson to Suckling 24.4.1795; Nicolas II p. 33. Nelson to Wife 28.4.1795; Naish pp. 207–8.

  32 Nelson to Wife 22 and 29.5.1795; Naish pp. 209–10

  33 Nelson to Wife 7.6.1795; Naish pp. 210–11. Nelson to Suckling 7.5.1795; Nelson to William Nelson 8.6.1795; Nicolas II pp. 40–2

  34 Nelson to Wife 15.6.1795; Naish pp. 211–12

  35 Nelson to Locker 18.6.1795; Nicolas II pp. 43–4

  36 Nelson to Wife 1.7.1795; Naish p. 214

  37 Syrett, D. and DiNardo, R. eds. The Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy; 1660–1815. London Navy Records Society, 1994, p. 6.

  38 Nelson to Locker 8.7.1795, Nelson to Clarence 15.7.1795; Nicolas II pp. 49–52. Nelson to Wife 9–14.7.1795; Naish pp. 215–16

  39 Nelson to Drake 18.7.1795; and Nelson to Hotham 22.7.1795; Nicolas II PP–53–4, 57–9. Nelson to Wife 18.7.1795; Naish pp. 216–17

  40 Nelson to Spencer 19.7.1795, Spencer to Hood 27.3.1795; Nicolas II pp. 56–7

  41 Nelson to Wife 2.8.1795; Naish pp. 218–19

  42 Nelson to Wife 24.7.1795; Naish pp. 217–18

  43 Nelson to William Nelson 29.7.1795; Nicolas II pp. 63–4

  44 Nelson to Drake 6.8. to Cockburn 8.8. and Elliot 13.8.1795; Nicolas II pp. 66–9

  45 Nelson to Locker 19.8.1795; Nicolas II pp. 69–71

  46 Nelson to Hotham 27 and 31.8.1795; Nicolas II pp. 73–7

  47 Nelson to Wife 1, 15.9.1795, Hotham to Nelson 4.9.1795, Nelson to Hotham 20.9.1795; Naish p. 221–2, 236, 246–7. Nelson to De Vins 9 and 17.9.1795, to Drake 9 and 18.9.1795, to Hotham 17.9.1795; Nicolas II 79–86

  48 Nelson to Wife 21.9.1795; Naish pp. 222–3. Nelson to Elliot 24.9.1795; Nicolas II pp. 87–9.

  49 Nelson to Neapolitan Commander 1.10.1795; Nicolas II pp. 90–1

  50 Nelson to Suckling 27.10.1795; Nicolas II pp. 92–3

  51 Nelson to Wife 2.11.1795; Naish pp. 225–6

  52 Nelson to Wife 13.11.1795; Naish pp. 227–8. Nelson to De Vins 7.11. to Drake 12.11. and to Admiralty 13.11.1795; Nicolas II pp. 95–7

  53 Nelson 6.11.1795; Nicolas II p. 94

  54 Nelson to Drake 27.11.1795. Nelson to Elliot 4.12.1795; Nicolas II pp. 108–9, 112–4. Nelson to Hyde Parker 2.12.1795; Naish pp. 251–2

  55 Nelson to Wife 2.12.1795; Naish pp. 228–30

  56 Nelson to Jervis 21.12.1795; Nicolas II pp. 12.0–1. Vado Bay Journal; Naish pp. 241–5

  57 Nelson to Wife 18 &25.12.1795; Naish pp. 230–3

  58 See Nelson’s speech to the House of Lords on 30.10.1801, Nicolas IV p.520.

  59 Hood, The Admirals Hood is the only full length treatment, although Hood shares the book with his younger brother Alexander, Lord Bridport, and his cousins Alexander, and Samuel, one of the Nile captains. Hannay, ed. Letters Written by Sir Samuel Hood (Viscount Hood) in 1781–2–3. London Navy Records Society 1895 offers a valuable record of the Admiral when Nelson joined his school. Duffy, M., ‘Samuel Hood, First Viscount Hood 1724–1816’, in LeFevre, P. and Harding, R., Precursors of Nelson; British Admirals of the Eighteenth Century, London, 2000, pp. 249–78, is the latest treatment.

  60 Crook, M. Toulon in War and Revolution, pp. 144–60

  61 Rose, Lord Hood and the Defence of Toulon.

  62 Duffy, p. 268

  63 Duffy, p. 259

  64 Nelson to William. Nelson 31.1.1783; Nicolas I p. 98

  CHAPTER VI

  1 Thorne, R. G. History of Parliament 1790–1820. Members G–P, pp. 305–6

  2 Jervis to Spencer 18.7.1796; Corbett, J. (ed.), The Spencer Papers vol. II (henceforth Sp. II) p. 37

  3 Jervis to Spencer 18.5.1796; Sp. II p. 23

  4 Jervis to Spencer 29.12.1796; Sp. II p. 84

  5 Nelson to Wife 14.12.1796; Naish pp. 310–11

  6 Jervis to Spencer 29.7.1796; Sp. II p. 43

  7 Jervis to Spencer 8.1796; Sp. II p. 48

  8 Jervis to Spencer 11.11.1796; Sp. II p. 72

  9 Jervis to Spencer 22.5.1797; Sp. II p. 403

  10 Berckman, Nelson’s Dear Lord; A Portrait of St Vincent, p. 196

  11 See BL Add. 34, 918 f. 50 for an example.

  12 Arthur, The Remaking of the English Navy by Admiral St Vincent, 1986 provides a useful treatment of the Ear’s contribution.

  13 For Cornwallis see Lambert in Lefevre and Harding.

  14 Minto II pp. 278–81, 345–51

  15 Nelson to Wife 23.8.1796; Naish pp. 301–2. This may explain the initially cold relationship between the two men in the spring of 1801.

  16 Nelson to Wife 6 and 14.1.1796; Naish pp. 233–4

  17 Nelson to Wife 20.1.796; Naish pp. 281–2

  18 Jervis to Spencer 24.1.1796 Spencer Papers II pp. 10–12

  19 Spencer to Nelson 15.1.1796; Naish pp. 333–4

  20 Nelson to Wife 27.1.1796; Naish p. 282

  21 Nelson to Wife 12.2.1796; Naish p. 283

  22 Nelson to Wife 28.1.1796; Naish pp. 284–5

  23 Nelson to Trevor 2.3.1796; to Locker 4.3.1796; to Elliot 10.3.1796; to Hamilton 11.3.1796; to Jervis 16.3.1796; Nicolas pp. 128–38. Nelson to Wife 11.3.1796; Naish pp. 285–6

  24 Chandler, D. The Campaigns of Napoleon, pp. 41, 47

  25 Ibid. p. 47

  26 Sherwig, p. 76

  27 Jervis to Spencer 28.3.1796; Sp. II p. 21

  28 Nelson to Wife 24.4.1796; Naish pp. 290–1

  29 Nelson to Wife 1 and 9.4.1796, Jervis to Elliot 5.4.1796; Naish pp. 287–8, 338–9. Nelson to Drake 6 and 11.4.1796;, to Jervis 8, 9 and 13.4.1796; Nicolas II pp. 142–52. Nelson to Spencer 11.4.1796; Nicolas VII p. xlvii.

  30 Spencer to Nelson 26.5.1796; Naish p. 335

  31 Nelson to Wife 19.4.1796; Naish p. 289

  32 Nelson to Jervis 25.4.1796; Nicolas II pp. 161–2

  33 Nelson to Jervis 26.4.1796; Nicolas II pp. 162–3

  34 Nelson to Jervis 1, 8, 15,18.5.1796; Nelson to Elliot 16.5.1796; Nicolas II pp. 164–73

  35 Nelson to Jervis 14.5.1796; Nicolas VII p. lxix

  36 Jervis to Nelson 11 and 22.5.1796; Naish pp. 336–7

  37 Nelson to Jervis 23.5.1796; Nicolas II p. 174

  38 Nelson to Wife 20 an
d 27.5.1796; Naish pp. 292–5

  39 Cockburn was one of Hood’s protégés, and Nelson’s dispatch was carefully shaped to secure his place in Jervis’s affections.

  40 Nelson to Jervis 4.6.1796; Nicolas VII p. lxix

  41 Nelson to Colonel Graham 19.6.1796; Nicolas VII pp. lxxxiii–iv

  42 Nelson to Jervis 20.6.1796; Nicolas VII p. lxxxv

  43 Jervis to Nelson 1.6.1796; Nicolas II pp. 335–6. Nelson to Jervis 4 and 9.6.1796; Nicolas VII p. lxxix–lxxxii. Nelson to Wife 13.6.1796; Naish pp. 295–6

  44 Nelson to Jervis 28.6.1796; Nicolas II pp. 194–5

  45 Nelson to Wife 21.6.1796; Naish p. 296

  46 Nelson to Jervis 23, 24 and 28.6.1796; Nicolas II pp. 189–95

  47 Jervis to Nelson 29.6.1796; Brenton I pp. 176–7

  48 Nelson to Elliot 2.7.1796; Nicolas II pp. 198–200. Elliot to Nelson 6.7.1796; Naish p. 341

  49 Nelson to Neutral Consuls at Leghorn 7.7.1796; Nicolas II p. 206. Nelson to Wife 7.7.1796; Naish pp. 296–7

  50 Nelson to Jervis 9 and 10.7.1796; Nicolas II pp. 207–9

  51 Jervis to Nelson 13 and 14.7.1796, Jervis to Elliot 14.7.1796; Naish pp. 337–9

  52 Elliot to Nelson 17.7.1796; Naish pp. 341–2

  53 Nelson to Wife 21–3.7.1796; Naish pp. 297–8

  54 Nelson to Clarence 20.7.1796; Nicolas II pp. 218–9

  55 Nelson to Jervis 23.7.1796; Nicolas VII p. xlii

  56 Jervis to Elliot 25.7.1796; Naish p. 339. Jervis to Spencer 18 and 27.7.1796; Spencer II pp. 37 and 42

  57 Nelson to Elliot 5.8.1796; Elliot to Nelson 6.8.1796; Naish pp. 341–2. Nelson to Elliot 10 and 11.8.1796; Nicolas II pp. 238–40

  58 Jervis to Nelson 31.7.1796; Brenton I pp. 192–3. Nelson to Jervis 15.8.1796; Nicolas VII p. xlix

  59 Jervis to Spencer 11.8.1796; Spencer II pp. 46–7. Jervis to Elliot 12.8.1796; Naish p. 339.

  60 Nelson to Father 19.8.1796; Nicolas II pp. 244–5

  61 Nelson to Elliot 25.8.1796; Nicolas II. pp. 253–5

  62 Nelson to Clarence 19.8.1796; Nicolas II pp. 245–6

  63 Elliot to Nelson 30.8.1796; Naish pp. 344–5

  64 Nelson to Wife 10.9.1796; Naish p. 303

  65 Nelson to William Wyndham 3.9.1796; Nicolas VII pp. cvii–cx. Nelson to Jervis 11, 14 and 19.9.1796; Nelson to Elliot 21.9.1796; Nicolas II pp. 262–74

  66 Jervis to Spencer 27.9.1796 enclosing Nelson –Jervis 15.9.1796; Spencer II PP–54–7

  67 White, 1797: Nelson’s Year of Destiny, pp. 16–17

  68 Jervis to Spencer 15.9.1796; Spencer II pp. 52–4

  69 Jervis to Nelson 25.9.1796; Naish p. 338

  70 Jervis to Elliot 26.9.1796; Naish p. 340

  71 Nelson to Jervis 26 and 28.9.1796; Nicolas II pp. 282–5

  72 Nelson to Jervis 19.10.1796; Nicolas II pp. 291–4

  73 Jervis to Nelson 13.10.1796; Naish p. 338

  74 Rose, p. 77

  75 Jervis to Elliot 17.10.1796; Naish p. 340

  76 Nelson to Jervis 15 and 17.10.1796; Nicolas II pp. 288–9

  77 Nelson to Wife 13 and 24.10.1796; Naish pp. 30–6

  78 Jervis to Spencer 2.10.1796; Spencer II p. 58

  79 Jervis to Spencer 23.10.1796; Spencer II pp. 61–4

  80 Nelson to Locker 5.11.1796; Nicolas II pp. 298–9

  81 Nelson to Collingwood 20.11.1796; Nelson Suckling 29.11.1796; Nicolas II pp. 304–7. Nelson to Wife 22.11.1796; Naish pp. 308–9

  82 Nelson to Collingwood 1.12.1796; Nicolas II p. 307. Nelson to Wife 1, 9 and 12.12.1796; Naish pp. 309–10

  83 Jervis to Nelson 10.12.1796; Nicolas II p. 311

  84 Jervis to Elliot 10.12.1796; Brenton I pp. 272–4

  85 Spencer to Jervis 16.12.1796 Spencer .II p. 78

  86 Nelson to Jervis 20.12.1796; Nicolas II pp. 312–15

  87 Nelson to Governor of Cartagena 24.12.1796; Nicolas II p. 317

  88 Nelson to Jervis 24.12.1796; Nelson to Elliot 24.12.1796; Nelson to De Burgh 29 and 30.12.1796; Nicolas II pp. 317–24

  CHAPTER VII

  1 Nelson to Spencer 4 and 16.1.1797; Nicolas VII pp. cxxvii–iii This chapter draws extensively on Colin White’s 1797: Nelson’s Year of Destiny, 1998

  2 Minto to Portland (Home Secretary) 24.1.1797; Minto II p. 371

  3 Nelson to Wife 13.1.1797; Naish p. 312

  4 Nelson to Jervis 25.1.1797; Nicolas VII p. cxxix

  5 Nelson to Wife 27.1.1797; Naish pp. 312–13

  6 Jervis to Spencer 16.2.1797; Nicolas II pp. 355–6

  7 Quoted in Nelson to William Nelson 17.2.1797; Nicolas II pp. 351–2

  8 Nelson to Locker 21.2.1797; Nicolas II pp. 353–5

  9 Nelson received the letter on rejoining the fleet after Tenerife; Nelson to Parker 19.8.1797; Nicolas II p. 438. Parker was disgraced in 1800 for leaving his station in search of prize, and died in 1802.

  10 Nelson to Wife 28.2.1797; Naish pp. 317–18

  11 Jervis to Spencer 26.2.1796; 5.3.1797; 6.4.1797 and Spencer to Jervis 3.4.1797; Spencer II pp. 93–7; 379–85

  12 Jervis to Spencer 5.3.1797; Spencer II p. 372

  13 Nelson to Jervis 11.4.1797; to Saumarez 12.4.1797; Nicolas II pp. 376 and 381.

  14 Robert Blake, Cromwell’s leading ‘General at Sea’, destroyed a Spanish fleet at Tenerife in 1657.

  15 Nelson to Jervis 12.4.1797; Nicolas II pp. 378–81

  16 Nelson to Jervis 21.4.1797; Nicolas VII pp. cxxxii–iii

  17 Nelson to Wife 27.5.1797; Naish pp. 324–5

  18 Nelson to Mazzaredo and reply 30.5. and 1.6.1797; Nicolas II pp. 388–9

  19 Nelson to Jervis 19.4.1797; Nicolas II pp. 378–81

  20 Nelson to St Vincent 6, 7, 9,10,12 and 13.6.1797; Nicolas II pp. 392–7 and VH pp. cxxxix–cxli

  21 Nelson to Wife 15, 29 and 30.6.1797; Naish pp. 325–8

  22 St Vincent to Spencer 3.8.1797; Spencer II 413

  23 Nelson to Jervis 27.7.1797; Nicolas II pp. 434–5

  24 Nelson to Wife 5 and 16.8.1797; Naish pp. 332–3. Nelson to Jervis 16.8.1797 and reply of same day; Nicolas II pp. 435–6

  25 St Vincent to Lady Nelson 16.8.1797; Naish p. 371. St Vincent to Admiralty 16.8.1797; Nicolas II pp. 434–5.

  26 The section on Tenerife is drawn, unless otherwise noted, from the much richer account given in Colin White’s magnificent 1797: Nelson’s Year of Destiny, pp. 89–133.

  27 St Vincent to Spencer 16.8.1797; Spencer II 414

  28 Walker: Abbott had already painted Hood and Bridport, among other naval sitters.

  29 In an early letter he declares ‘my mind has long been made up to such an event’: Nelson to Wife 3.8.1797; Nicolas II p. 436

  30 Correspondence October–December 1797; Nicolas II pp. 447–61

  31 It appears that there were no current plans of this sort, although 25,000 men had been embarked over the summer. Desbrière Projets I pp. 264–6

  32 Nelson would command several ex–Dutch ships in 1801.

  33 Lord Grenville to Spencer 13.10.1797; Sp. II pp. 195–6

  34 Tomlinson, B. ‘The Battle Sanctified’, in Duffy, M. and Morriss, R. The Glorious First of June. Exeter, 2001 pp. 165–6.

  35 Pitt to Spencer 22.10.1797 Sp. II pp. 213–15

  36 Coupland, R. ed. The War Speeches of William Pitt the Younger. Oxford, 1915 Speech of 10.11.1797 pp. 227–8. The republication of these rousing calls to national unity in the next total war was not accidental.

  37 Jordan, G. and Rogers, N. ‘Admirals as Heroes; Patriotism and Liberty in Hanoverian England’, Journal of British Studies 28 (1989), p. 213

  CHAPTER VIII

  1 Nelson received several trophies and rewards for this service from City companies, for whom the events of 1798 were a great relief. The Levant Company’s silver cup was a particular favourite.

  2 Baring, ed. The Diary of William Windham, 1784–1811, p. 382

  3 Ibid. p. 389

  4 Naishp. 381

  5 Nelson to St Vincent 10.1.1798; Nicolas III p. 3

  6 Spencer to Grenville 6.
4.1798; Spencer II pp. 433–4

  7 Nelson to Mrs Collingwood 12.3 and Nelson to Father 14.3.1798; Nicolas III p. 6

  8 Nelson’s will 21.3.1798; Naish pp. 405–6. Nelson to William Nelson 31.3.1798; Nicolas III pp. 7–8.

  9 Spencer to St Vincent 30.3.1798; Spencer II p. 432

  10 Nelson to Clarence 24.4.1798; Nicolas III p. 10

  11 Nelson to Wife 1.5.1798; Naish p. 394–5

  12 Spencer to St Vincent 29.4.1798; Spencer II pp. 437–9

  13 Mackesy, Statesmen at War; The Strategy of Overthrow 1798–1799, pp. 3–5

  14 Lavery, Nelson and the Nile; The Naval War against Bonaparte 1798, pp. 93–8. This excellent campaign study informs the operational and tactical discussions of this chapter. Battesti, La Battaille d’Aboukir; Nelson contrarie la Stratégie de Napoleon provides a compelling assessment of the campaign from the French perspective, stressing the strategic impact of the battle, denying France, and Bonaparte, the dream of escaping the limits of Europe for world empire.

  15 Mackesy, pp. 16–41

  16 Lavery, p. 101

  17 St Vincent to Spencer 19.5.1798; Spencer II pp. 446–7

  18 St Vincent to Nelson 21.5.1798; Nicolas III pp. 25–6

  19 Lavery, pp. 7–24

  20 Nelson to St Vincent 6.5.1797; Nicolas VII pp. cl–cli

  21 Nelson to the captains of HMS Orion, Alexander and Vanguard 7.5.1798; Nelson to St Vincent 8.5.1798; Nicolas III pp. 13–15

  22 Lavery, pp. 63–4

  23 Nelson to St Vincent 17.5.1798; Nicolas III pp. 16–17

  24 Lavery, pp. 117–19

  25 Nelson Order 7.6.1798; Nicolas III p. 23

  26 Berry, p. 49

  27 Lavery, p. 122

  28 Nelson to Hamilton and St Vincent 12 and 12–15.6.1798; Nicolas III pp. 28–30

  29 Nelson to Hamilton 14.6.1798; Nicolas III p. 30

  30 Nelson to Spencer 15.6.1798; Nicolas III p. 31. Naish p. 398

  31 Nelson to Hamilton 17.6.1798; Nicolas HI pp. 32–3

  32 Nelson to Hamilton 18 and 20.6.1798; Nicolas HI pp. 33–4

  33 Naish pp. 407–9. Lavery pp. 127–8

  34 St Vincent to Spencer 15.7.1798; Spencer II pp. 447–8

  35 Nelson to St Vincent 12.7.1798; Nicolas III p. 41

  36 Nelson to St Vincent 20.7.1798; Nicolas III p. 45. Nelson to Wife 20.7.1798; Naish p. 398